SIGN UP

Create an Inhabitat account

Sign up for weekly newsletter

I agree to receive emails from the site. I can withdraw my consent at any time by unsubscribing.

I agree to Inhabitat's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and to the use of cookies described therein, and I also consent to the collection, storage, and processing of my data in the United States, where data protection laws may be different from those in my country.

Cohen Van Balen Heals People Using Old Dogs and Transgenic Sheep

London-based studio Cohen Van Balen works synchronizing design and biotechnology. Their new and unconventional project sees animals as life support ‘devices’ for human patients suffering from renal and respiratory ailments. The ‘Life Support’ concepts offer thoughtful alternatives to inhumane medical therapies, as well as a way for humans to develop a relationship of mutual reliance with an animal.

In short, their ‘Respiratory Dog‘ project consists of using a retired racing greyhound to generate mechanical lung ventilation through its movement. By using the old dog in such a way, it is rescued from a fate of being deliberately killed — which is the case with many retired racing dogs being “of no use anymore”. What’s created is a beautiful co-dependence between the animal and the patient.

Of a similar vein is the ‘Dialysis Sheep’, which consists of creating a transgenic lamb with transgenic kidneys able to clean a human’s blood during the night. During the day the sheep would be free to roam in the patient’s back garden, cleanse its kidneys and drink water containing salt minerals, calcium and glucose.

The concepts that are certainly out there. What do you think — are they right or wrong?

One thought on “Cohen Van Balen Heals People Using Old Dogs and Transgenic Sheep”

Interesting ideas. There might be a problem with the dog as the bigger they are the shorter the life-span. The sheep idea is interesting too. How would you make sure that both perform as needed though?

RELATED ARTICLES

{{category(n, postList)}}

Slideshow

Cohen Van Balen Heals People Using Old Dogs and Transgenic Sheep

Cohen Van Balen's health through animals Life Support

1 of 7

London-based studio Cohen Van Balen works synchronizing design and biotechnology. Their new and unconventional project sees animals as life support ‘devices’ for human patients suffering from renal and respiratory ailments. The 'Life Support' concepts offer thoughtful alternatives to inhumane medical therapies, as well as a way for humans to develop a relationship of mutual reliance with an animal.

Cohen Van Balen's health through animals Life Support

2 of 7

London-based studio Cohen Van Balen works synchronizing design and biotechnology. Their new and unconventional project sees animals as life support ‘devices’ for human patients suffering from renal and respiratory ailments. The 'Life Support' concepts offer thoughtful alternatives to inhumane medical therapies, as well as a way for humans to develop a relationship of mutual reliance with an animal.

Cohen Van Balen's health through animals Life Support

3 of 7

London-based studio Cohen Van Balen works synchronizing design and biotechnology. Their new and unconventional project sees animals as life support ‘devices’ for human patients suffering from renal and respiratory ailments. The 'Life Support' concepts offer thoughtful alternatives to inhumane medical therapies, as well as a way for humans to develop a relationship of mutual reliance with an animal.

Cohen Van Balen's health through animals Life Support

4 of 7

London-based studio Cohen Van Balen works synchronizing design and biotechnology. Their new and unconventional project sees animals as life support ‘devices’ for human patients suffering from renal and respiratory ailments. The 'Life Support' concepts offer thoughtful alternatives to inhumane medical therapies, as well as a way for humans to develop a relationship of mutual reliance with an animal.

Cohen Van Balen's health through animals Life Support

5 of 7

London-based studio Cohen Van Balen works synchronizing design and biotechnology. Their new and unconventional project sees animals as life support ‘devices’ for human patients suffering from renal and respiratory ailments. The 'Life Support' concepts offer thoughtful alternatives to inhumane medical therapies, as well as a way for humans to develop a relationship of mutual reliance with an animal.

Cohen Van Balen's health through animals Life Support

6 of 7

London-based studio Cohen Van Balen works synchronizing design and biotechnology. Their new and unconventional project sees animals as life support ‘devices’ for human patients suffering from renal and respiratory ailments. The 'Life Support' concepts offer thoughtful alternatives to inhumane medical therapies, as well as a way for humans to develop a relationship of mutual reliance with an animal.

Cohen Van Balen's health through animals Life Support

7 of 7

London-based studio Cohen Van Balen works synchronizing design and biotechnology. Their new and unconventional project sees animals as life support ‘devices’ for human patients suffering from renal and respiratory ailments. The 'Life Support' concepts offer thoughtful alternatives to inhumane medical therapies, as well as a way for humans to develop a relationship of mutual reliance with an animal.